Editing Backscatter (section)

{{short description|Reflection which reverses the direction of a wave, particle, or signal}}
{{Other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2007}}
[[File:Backscatter on Resciesa Val Gardena.jpg|thumbnail|Backscatter in photography, showing a [[Brocken spectre]] within the rings of a [[glory (optical phenomenon)|glory]]]]

In [[physics]], '''backscatter''' (or '''backscattering''') is the [[reflection (physics)|reflection]] of [[wave]]s, [[particle]]s, or [[signal]]s back to the direction from which they came. It is usually a [[diffuse reflection]] due to [[scattering]], as opposed to [[specular reflection]] as from a [[mirror]], although specular backscattering can occur at normal incidence with a surface. Backscattering has important applications in [[astronomy]], [[photography]], and [[medical ultrasonography]]. The opposite effect is [[forward scatter]], e.g. when a [[transparency and translucency|translucent]] material like a cloud diffuses [[sunlight]], giving [[soft light]].